XV.

Men may pursue the Beautiful, while they

Love not the Good, the life of all the Fair;

Keen-eyed for beauty, they will find it where

The darkness of their eyes hath power to slay

The vision of the good in beauty's ray,

Though fruits the same life-giving branches bear.

So in a statue they will see the rare

Beauty of thought moulded of dull crude clay,

While loving joys nor prayer their souls expand.

So Thou didst mould thy thoughts in Life not Art;

Teaching with human voice, and eye, and hand,

That none the beauty from the truth might part:

Their oneness in thy flesh we joyous hail —

The Holy of Holies’ cloud-illumined veil!